Australian team doctor Peter Brukner paid an enormous tribute to Clarke during Thursday’s press conference addressing Hughes’ tragic death at the age of 25, saying Clarke had impressed him immensely with his support for the Hughes family.

“There is one man I’d like to pay particular tribute to, and that’s our Australian captain Michael Clarke,” Brukner said.

“Phillip’s always been like a little brother to Michael and Michael’s efforts over the past 48 hours to support the family — the family were obviously going through a difficult time — but I’m not sure they would have coped without Michael’s assistance.

“I was just enormously impressed at the work that he did and the genuine care and love that he gave to the Hughes family, and I think he deserves enormous credit.”

Clarke returned to the SCG on Friday to pay respect to his mate, walking into the ground arm in arm with his Australian teammate David Warner.

David Warner and Michael Clarke at the SCG on Friday.Source:News Corp Australia

Grade cricket in Sydney and Adelaide, the two cities were Hughes plied his trade as a professional cricketer, has been cancelled today but club and school games are going ahead as planned.

Cricket Australia has asked clubs to consider a range of tributes, including black armbands, and has asked the mandatory retirement score for junior players be lifted from the traditional 50 to 63.

Hughes was unbeaten on 63 batting for South Australia when he was felled by a bouncer.

The left-hander was Australia’s 408th Test player, with the number set to be painted on cricket fields around the country.

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